Package vending machine



3, v p COMPTON f PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1945- H. P. COMPTON ET AL 2,373,014

PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N w H M W5 Q 7 5 q 7 4 .l| z m 4wgw ua r /A m .5 3% a M 7 5 V F 4 4 Elma/Mom. 6 0 mpvm v 691%?? WWW ' April 3,1945 H. P COMPTON'ETAL PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Filed March '1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MAW Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED STATES.

rem OFFICE PACKAGE VENDING MACHINE Henry Purl Comptonand ,lamesv Alton Antsy,

Abilene, Tex.

This invention relates to dispensing. machinesfor dispensing packaged articles.

An object of' this invention is to provide .a dispensing machine which includes a. plurality of vertical magazines for holding stacked packages, and means for dispensing packages from a selected magazine.

Another object of. this; invention is to provide in combination with a coin operated mechanism an improved selector means whereby the purchaser mayselect the package to be dispensed.

A further'object of this invention is to provide an improved operating. means for a selective ejector.

A further object of. this invention. is to provide a dispensing machine which isof'simple construction so that it will not readily get out of. order and may be produced. at relatively smallcost.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved package ejector which is readily adjustable toward. or away from the package so as tov insure theejection of. the-package when the coin controlled. mechanism is. operated.

A iurther. object ofi this invention. is to provide:

an improved connection. betweenthe coin-con.-

trolledmechanism andthe ejector mechanism so as. to provide the. desired. lost motion between these mechanisms andlprevent. operation of the ejector mechanism, prior to the insertion. of a coin. 1

To. the foregoing objects and.- to; others which may hereinaftenappear; the. invention. consists of. the. novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts as will:- be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying; drawings, wherein. is" shown embodiments ofthe invention; but-it lSSfiObBT understood; that'ichanges, variations. and modifications} may be: resorted to which. fall. within the scope-i or the. invention as claimed.

'IDZthEEdIZEIWlHES'I.

E'igure 1'1 islaa detailifront elevati'orr offa: dispens ing: device constructed according to": an embodiment ofthiszinventi-on;

Figure Zis a fragmentary vertical section taken Figure fiis'a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-"-6 of Figure I,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section takenon the line 'll of'Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view" taken v on the line l-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 9 ofFi'gureB.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral ill designates. generally a cabinet which includes an upper body it and abase. body L2; The cabinet I i! is formed ofa base. or bottom.wal1. 13,. upright sidewalls i i and. a. rear wall. l'5.. The rear wall 15 and theside walls. It extend throughout the height of the cabinet H1 and the rearwall l5- is secured'in arabbet l fii formed in the-rear vertical edges of the side walls-.- 1-4 by fastening devices- The lower or' base'memberi i-2= includes a front wall: is which is secur'e'dibetween the sidewalls 14-; the side walls t4 being: extended: forwardly so as to offset the base memberlZf from the upper or magazine member II. A top: wall i9 is secured to the upper edge of' the front wall I 2 and the front wall 12 is formed with an opening 29 within which a removable closure 2| is positioned". The closure it is provided at its lower edge with downwardly extending dowels 22 engaging in recesses formed in the upper side of the base l3- and a conventional lock 23 is carried by the upper. edge of the closure 2| and isadapted to w leasably hold. the closure 2'! in vertical alignment with the front wall 18.

The closure 2| in the center thereof and in the. lower edge is formed. with a delivery opening 24 through which the. dispensed packages are adaptedito be withdrawn. The upper member I i has a removable front wall-.01. closure 25 whichv is seated in a rabbet 26. formed. in. the forward. edge of the sidev walls '14 above the wall 19. The closure. or removable front-wall. Ztldsadapted to seat at its lower end on.- supporting blocks 21 which are secured to: the inner faces. of: the side walls lid by fastening members 28; The lower end of' the closure: 25 is adapted to engage rearwardly of the rear edge of the top. wall [9; as shown in Figure 2; and: a lock N" is carried by the upper-portion of the closure 25' and has the locking bolt 3!] thereof engageable in akee-per 31 which is formed in the top wall 32.

The closure or removable front wall 25 is provided with a window opening 33 adjacent" the lower portion thereof and a" panel 34 is mounted in the opening 33". The closure 25 may also be provided with a second opening 35' above the front wall 5 I.

opening 33 and a mirror 36 may be mounted in the upper opening 35.

An inner vertical wall 3! is secured between the side walls l4 substantially mid-way between the rear wall l5 and the front wall or closure 25. The inner wall 31 constitutes the rear wall of the magazine construction and has the lower edge thereof positioned slightly below the upper side of the top wall l9. A plurality of partitions 33 are secured in vertical grooves 39 formed in the forward side of the inner wall 31 and the partitions 38 divide the space between the inner wall 31 and the forward wall 25 into a plurality of compartments or magazines 4!].

A central dividing wall 4| may be mounted in a vertical groove or channel 42 formed in the.

inner wall 3'! so that compartments 40 will be positioned on one side of the dividing partition 4| and additional compartments 40a for receiving suitable packaged articles will be positioned on the opposite side of the dividing wall 4|. The compartments or chambers 40a are separated one from another by vertical partitions 38a seated in vertical grooves 39a similar to the partitons 38 and the grooves 39, respectively. In the present instance, the chambers or magazines 40a are not quite as deep as the magazines or chambers 49.

The inner wall 31 at the lower end thereof has secured in a groove 43 formed in the lower end 31 a depending flexible apron 44. The apron 44 is adapted to confront the lowermost package P which is disposed in the magazines. the apron 44 extending entirely across the lower end of the upper member The packages P are adapted to rest on a lower magazine wall 45 which is disposed between the side walls I4 of the cabinet, and the rear edge of the magazine wall 45 is disposed forwardly of the apron 44 and the rear wall 3'! thereby defining a delivery opening or channel 46. The bottom wall 45 is formed with a rounded upper rear edge 41 so that the packages may readily gravitatingly drop downwardly through the passage 46 and into the base member l2.

The base member l2 has positioned therein a hopper generally designated as 48. The hopper 48 includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear wall 49, a pair of downwardly and inwardly inclined side walls and a vertical The side Walls 50 and the front wall 5| are shorter in length than the rear wall 49 and the packages dropping downwardly from the magazine chambers are adapted to slide downwardly along'the side Walls 50 or the rear wall 49 and then engage in a lower delivery chamber 52. The articles engaging in the delivery chamber 52 may be removed by extending a hand through the semi-circular opening 24.

The packages P in the several magazines may be selectively removed or ejected from the package chambers by means of an ejector generally designated as 53. The ejector 53 comprises a horizontally disposed ejector arm 54 which has formed integral therewith a downwardly extending Vertical arm 55. The ejector 53 is disposed below the top wall l9 and inwardly of the front wall HE. A horizontal or base arm 56 is formed integral with the vertical arm and is secured to a rearwardly extending supporting arm 51. The supporting arm 57 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a cylindrical sleeve or slide member 58. The slide member 58 is horizontally slidable on a horizontally disposed guide rod 59. The guide rod 59 has formed integral with the opposite ends thereof rearwardly projecting horizontal arms or extensions 60 and the rear ends of the arms or extensions 69 are connected together by means of a connecting member 6| which is disposed-in parallel relation with respect to the guide rod 59. The rearwardly extending arms or extensions 50 are horizontally slidable in sleeves 62 which are secured to the inner sides of the side walls l4 by means of a supporting plate 63. The plate 63 may be welded or otherwise fixed to the guide sleeves 62.

The carrier 64, comprising the rectangular frame structure including the guide rod 59, the right angular and rearwardly extending arm or extension til, and the connecting member 6| is adapted to be moved rearwardly to a package ejecting position by means of an elongated bar 65. The bar 65 forms part of a coin operated mechanism 56 which is similar to the coin operated mechanism embodied in Patents Nos. 1,908,380, issued May 9, 1933, and 1,908,752, issued may 15, 1933. The bar 65 extends interiorly of thebase member l2 and has secured to the inner end thereof an upwardly extending bolt 61. The bolt 6! engages in an elongated slot 68 which is formed in a forwardly extending horizontal bar 69 which is welded or otherwise fixed to the rear horizontal bar 6|. A bolt 1 engages through the slot 68 rearwardly of the bolt 69 and forms an adjustable stop for the bolt 61 so that the extent of lost motion between the bolt 6'! and the arm or bar 69 may be ad justed to the desired degree. The bar 65 is adapted to be constantly urged forwardly to an inoperative position by means of a pair of springs 7| and'lZ. The springs II and 12 are disposed in rearwardly convergent relation, having their rear ends looped over the bolt 61, and the forward or divergent ends of the springs H and 12 are secured to fastening members 13 and 14, respectively.

The ejector 53 is adapted to be horizontally shifted to aposition confronting a selected magazine by means of an operator or shifter, generally designated as 15. The shifter 15 includes a U-shaped member 16 which is adapted to engage about the ejector 53 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and comprises an upper horizontal wall or bight I1 and a pair of vertical walls or legs 18. The vertical walls or legs |8 are of triangular configuration with their larger ends foremost. A horizontally disposed connecting bar 19 is disposed at the rear end of the bight 1'! and downwardly offset therefrom and engages loosely beneath the horizontal ejecting arm 54. The operator or shifter member 15 has secured to the upper wall 1'! thereof a stem which engages loosely through an elongated slot 8| formed in the top wall IS. A knob or handle 82 is secured at the upper end of the stem 80 and projects above the top wall I9.

The handle or knob 82 is adapted to be horizontally shifted to a position confronting the desired magazine, and when this is done, the ejector 53'will be disposedin a position confronting the lowermost package -P of theselected magazine. A coin may then be inserted in the coin recess 83 which is formed in the bar 65, whereupon the bar 65 may be pushed rearwardly. When the bolt 61 strikes the stop bolt l0,the carrier 64 will move with the bar 65 and the ejector 53 will push the lowermost package P of the selected magazine from beneath the stacked pile into the passage 46. The ejected package P will flex the apron 54 and then drop downwardly into the hopper 48 to b'emoved forwardlyto an inoperative position, 1

andinthis position t'he-ejector 53 will be disposed forwardly of the magazine chambers, as shown in Figure I.

The-coins are adapted to drop downwardly into the; base member l'2' from the coin mechanism 66 into a coin box 84 which is mounted on a horizontal supporting wall 35 disposed between the forward hopper wall l-- and the closure 2!. A dispensing apparatus as hereinbefore described will provide ameans whereby packaged articles may be dispensed and the purchaser may readily select the desired package by shifting of the selector member to a position confronting the desired magazine which may be viewed through the transparent panel 34.

This device provides for an exceedingly simple dispensing cabinet including a common carrier for the ejector and the latter is slidable horizontally and transversely along the carrier to the desired position for ejecting a selected package. The use of the stop bolt ill which is rearwardly of the operating bolt 61 permits the desired lost motion with respect to the operating bar and. if desired, a second stop bolt 10a may be secured to the bar 69 forwardly of the bolt '6'! in orde" to provide for the proper forward movement of the ejector and carrier under the action of the springs H and 12.

It will be understood that the coin mechanism 66 is of such a construct on that the bar has relative horizontal movement which is attained without the insertion of a coin in the coin recess 83. The lost motion between the bar 65 and the carrier 64 is provided in order to prevent the operation of the carrier E l without insertion of a coin in the recess 83, the carrier operation requiring complete rearward movement of the carrier operating bar '55.

What we claim is:

l. A package dispensing means comprising a cabinet, a plurality of vertically disposed package magazines in said cabinet having discharge openings therein, a carrier disposed below said maga" zines, means slidably mounting said carrier for forward and rearward movement, a laterally movable package ejector slidably carried by said carrier and selectively movable to a position confronting the lowermost package of a selected magazine, mean for shifting said ejector to a selected position, and operating means for said carrier.

2. A package dispensing mean comprising a cabinet, a plurality of vertically disposed package magazines in said cabinet havin discharge openings therein, a carrier disposed in said cabinet, said carrier comprising a front elongated bar, rearwardly extending side bars connected to said front bar, and a rear bar connecting the rear ends of said side bars together, means fixed to said cabinet engaging said side bars supporting said carrier for forward and rearward movement beneath said magazines, an operating member for said carrier, a lost motion connection be tween said carrier and sad operator, and a laterally movable package ejector slidably carried by said front bar.

3. A package dispensing means comprising a cabinet, a plurality of vertically disposed package magazines in said cabinet having discharge openings therein, a carrier disposed in said cabinet, said carrier comprising a front elongated bar; rearwardly extending side, bars connected to said:v front .bar, and a reanbar connecting the rear ends of: saidv side bars, together, means fixed, to

said cabinet engaging said side bars supporting said carrier for forward: and rearward movement beneathsaidmagazines, an operating member for said'carrier, a lost motion connection between said carrier and: said operator; a. laterally movable package ejector, and; means slidably mounting said ejector on said: front bar: in upwardly offset: relation with. respect to said front-- bar.

4. A; package dispensing means comprising a cabinet, plurality of vertically disposed package magazines in said cabinet having discharge openings therein, a carrier disposed in said cabi net, said carrier comprising a, front elongated bar, rearwardly extending side bars connected to said front bar, and a rear bar connecting the rear ends of said side bars together, means fixed to said cabinet engaging said side bars supporting said carrier for forward and rearward movement beneath said magazines, an operating member for said carrier, a lost motion connection between said carrier and said operator, a laterally movable package ejector, means slidably mounting said ejector on said front bar in upwardly ofiset relation with respect to said front bar, an operator for said ejector and means slida bly connecting said latter operator, with said ejector whereby said ejector may move inwardly of said cabinet on an ejecting cycle without movement of said latteroperator. V

5. A package dispensing means comprising a cabinet, a plurality of vertically disposed package magazines in said cabinet having discharge openings therein, a carrier disposed in said cabinet, said carrier comprising a front elongated bar, rearwardly extending side bars connected to said front bar, and a rear bar connecting the rear ends of said side bars together, means fixed to said cabinet engaging said side bars support-' ing, a laterally movable package ejector, and

means slidably mounting said ejector on said front bar.

6. A package dispensing means comprising a cabinet, a plurality of vertically disposed package magazines in said cabinet having discharge openin'gs therein, a carrier disposed in said cabinet, said carrier comprising a front elongated bar, rearwardly extending side bars connected to said front bar, and a rear bar connecting the rear ends of said side bars together, means fixed to said cabinet engaging said side bars supporting said carrier for forward and rearward movement beneath said magazines, an operating member for said carrier, 2, forwardly extending bar fixed to said rear bar and having an elongated opening therethrough, a carrier operating bar, an upwardly extending member carried by said operating bar and loosely engaging in said opening, means engaging through said opening and adjustable relative to the length of the latter for 7. A package dispensing means comprising a cabinet, a plurality of vertically disposed package openings therein, a carrier disposed in said cabinet, said carrier comprising a front elongated bar, rearwardly extending side bars connected to said front bar, a rear bar connecting the rear ends of said side bars together, means fixed to said cabinet engaging said side bars supporting said carrier for forward and rearward movement beneath said magazines, an operating member for said carrier, a forwardly extending bar fixed 10 to said rear bar and having an elongated opening therethrough, an upwardly extending member carried by said operating bar and loosely magazines in said .cabinet having discharge engaging in said opening, means engaging through said opening and adjustable relative to the length of the latter for regulating the lost motion between said member and said carrier;-

a laterally movable package ejector, means slidably mounting said ejector on said front bar, and an operator for said ejector, said latter operator comprising an inverted U-shaped member encompassing said ejector and between the arms 1 of which said ejector is slidable, and a handle secured to the bight of said latter operator.

HENRY PURL COIWPTON. l

JAMES ALTON AUTRY. 

